Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Zhu Youjian was quite pleased when he read Qian Qianyi's "On Weapons". He praised:

"I was just talking in general terms, but I didn't expect you to listen so seriously."

"This theory of four types of weapons, stone, bronze, iron, and firearms, is indeed very appropriate."

"Especially this sentence: From stone tools to bronze tools, to iron tools, to fire tools, this is the change of tools."

"Sir, you are truly a genius. You realize that objects are changing!"

He pointed to a sentence in Qian Qianyi's "On Weapons" and praised it highly.

This sentence is already talking about the evolution of weapons, realizing that weapons are not static.

This idea alone surpasses many people of this era——

Some people's brains are like granite and remain stubborn and unchanging.

It is indeed a good idea to keep Qian Qianyi, as this man has a flexible mind and is also flexible.

Zhu Youjian was already considering releasing more knowledge through Qian Qianyi, and after his polishing, turning it into views that could be accepted by people at that time.

I don’t know what the emperor was thinking, but Qian Qianyi couldn’t help but let his beard curl up when he heard the praise.

He wrote "On Weapons" to please the emperor, and for this purpose he read many books mentioned by the emperor.

Thinking of the emperor's quotation from Han Feizi some time ago, he boldly said in this occasion where only the emperor and his subjects were present:
"Han Feizi once said: In ancient times, Youchao built a nest with wood to avoid harm, and Suiren drilled a fire drill to remove the stench of fish, and both of them were able to rule the world."

"But if someone had invented a wooden drill to make a flint in the Xia Dynasty, he would have been laughed at by Gun and Yu!"

"From this, I realize that the same is true for objects."

"If soldiers in the Qin and Han dynasties had been equipped with iron weapons, they would have been magic weapons, and they would have helped them defeat the barbarians."

"But if the Song Dynasty still only used iron tools, it would be laughed at by the barbarians!"

"The Song Dynasty was destroyed by the Mongols because it failed to improve its weapons in time."

"The Ming Dynasty improved its firearms to drive out the barbarians, ushering in a new era for the Ming Dynasty."

He quoted Han Fei's works as the basis of his own theory.

He did not dare to say such things outside to avoid being criticized by other Confucian scholars. But he said it boldly in front of the emperor to show that he knew about the Legalists.

I can also shoulder the heavy responsibility of formulating etiquette and laws.

After hearing these words, Zhu Youjian was indeed very happy and praised:
"Teacher once said: Etiquette is the basis of law, and law is the purpose of etiquette. It turns out that you have a lot of insights into etiquette and law."

"The Legalists of Han Fei and Li Si were originally derived from Xunzi. However, they went astray, lost the guidance of etiquette, and used criminal laws to oppress and harm the people."

"But we must also learn from its usefulness and use rituals and music to guide the law back onto the right path."

Qian Qianyi's behavior was characterized and it was believed that useful aspects of the Legalists could be learned.

The implicit meaning is that the Legalists can be incorporated into Confucianism.

Qian Qianyi, who was worried about his weak foundation in practical studies, was of course very happy, because it meant that he could openly change the name of Legalism and make it his own academic discipline.

Thinking of the "two levels and four requirements" that the emperor had proposed when examining the eunuch party, he already had a vague idea in his mind:

We must use objective evidence and introduce practical knowledge into solving cases.

Those who study etiquette and laws cannot avoid practical learning.
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Thinking of this prospect, Qian Qianyi was as happy as drinking sweet wine. But what surprised him even more was the emperor's next suggestion:
"Although this "Theory of Weapons" is good, it is too narrow."

"Sir, think carefully. Besides being weapons, what else can stone, bronze, and iron tools be used for?"

Qian Qianyi thought for a moment and replied:

"Stone tools, bronze tools, and iron tools can also be used in normal times."

“Farmers can use it to cultivate land, workers can use it to do work, and merchants can use it to exchange.”

Zhu Youjian nodded in approval and concluded:
“Agriculture, industry and commerce can all be used for production, so stone tools, bronze tools, and iron tools can be called production tools or production tools.”

"What you mean by 'the change of tools' is actually the evolution of production tools, which in turn led to the evolution of weapons."

“So your article should not be called “On Weapons” but “On Production” as the next article after “On Permanent Production”.”

"Under the guidance of practical learning, improve tools and use them to develop production."

Introduced Qian Qianyi's practical learning to guide production development.

Tell the people of the Ming Dynasty that wealth is not constant, and that they can develop production and increase overall wealth.

Although Qian Qianyi did not realize this and did not understand what a means of production was, the words "On Production" gave him a sudden enlightenment and made him realize why the emperor said he was "narrow-minded" -

Isn’t production the thing that corresponds to permanent property?
How can a mere paper on weapons be the next chapter of "On Permanent Property"?

So he said sincerely:
"What your Majesty said is true!"

“The next chapter of On Permanent Property should indeed be On Production.”

"It's easy to use stone, bronze and iron tools for production, but how can firearms be used for production?"

"Are they going to use it to mine or make firecrackers?"

Unable to figure out how to use firearms to develop production.

But if we leave aside firearms, it is not perfect from the perspective of weapons.

The reason why he wrote "On Weapons" was because the Ming Dynasty used firearms to restore its military power.

Zhu Youjian smiled when he heard this, but did not give a direct answer. He guided Qian Qianyi and said:

"Stone tools, bronze tools, and iron tools can be further subdivided."

"Sir, think carefully, pottery and jade, are they stone tools?"

Jade is a kind of stone, so it is natural to call it a stone tool.

However, Qian Qianyi was puzzled by the fact that pottery was also called stone tools:

“Pottery is made by firing, so why is it called stoneware?”

Zhu Youjian explained:
"The stones come in a variety of shapes. Some are ready to use, but many need to be polished."

"You can imagine how difficult it is to grind a water jar."

"So our ancestors kneaded the clay into shapes and burned them into stone tools that resembled stone."

“The first pottery was like earthenware, and then it became stronger and stronger after being fired, and it evolved into porcelain.”

"If natural stone tools are called Paleolithic, then artificial stone tools such as pottery and jade can be called Neolithic."

"Including the transitional period between the two, the Stone Age can be subdivided into the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic."

This is common sense in later generations, but at this time it sounded refreshing to Qian Qianyi.

Although he did not understand the relationship between the subdivision of the Stone Age and firearms, he patiently listened to the emperor continue to talk:

"The Bronze Age, like the Stone Age, can be subdivided."

"The Yellow Emperor mined copper from Shoushan Mountain to cast tripods and swords. The natural copper blocks he used were mostly red in color, which can be called the Red Copper Age. At that time, copper and stone were used together, and it was in a transitional stage."

"During the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, people already knew how to add tin or lead to copper to increase its hardness. Most of the artifacts excavated by later generations were blue, which can be called the Bronze Age. Copper artifacts had become the main production tool and were also used as weapons."

This is a subdivision of the Bronze Age. After careful consideration, Qian Qianyi felt that it made sense. He speculated based on the emperor's words:
"Stone tools and bronze tools all have natural origins, and so should iron tools."

"In this Iron Age subdivision, is the first one the age when natural iron was used?"

Zhu Youjian laughed out loud, very satisfied that Qian Qianyi could come up with it on his own. He also figured out the subdivision of the Iron Age on his own, explaining: "The ancients called iron evil gold, and its smelting was very difficult at that time."

“Whether it’s meteorite iron, natural iron, or iron blocks obtained through simple smelting, they all need to be forged before they can be used.”

"So the first sub-era of the Iron Age can be called the Wrought Iron Age. At that time, copper and iron were used together, and it was in a transitional stage."

"Then people mastered the technology of smelting iron and began to produce ironware on a large scale, which was completely dominated by ironware and entered the iron smelting era."

"The Han and Tang dynasties in the Middle Ages, the Song and Yuan dynasties in recent times, and even our own dynasty, were all in the iron smelting era."

This explanation made Qian Qianyi suddenly understand, and he tried to say:
"Firearms are made of iron. Only by smelting iron on a large scale can we produce enough firearms."

"So, Your Majesty is saying that, in terms of production tools, the era of iron smelting should replace the era of firearms?"

Zhu Youjian nodded in approval, then shook his head slightly and talked about another matter:

"The Equipment Research Institute reported that the rifling of the rifled guns used by the military would be worn out after firing a few hundred rounds."

"This is why the Ming Dynasty only had powerful weapons like rifled guns, but it was difficult to equip them on a large scale."

"To produce a rifle, you must use steel, and better quality steel."

"So I think the next era will be the Steel Age."

"The term 'Age of Firearms' should be replaced by 'Age of Steel' -"

"Only with enough steel can we produce enough firearms!"

Express your own point of view, that the Iron Age can be divided into the Iron Forging Age, the Iron Smelting Age, and the Steel Age.

The Ming Dynasty is now on the eve of the Steel Age, and the comprehensive development of firearms requires more steel.

This is the evolution of the times that has occurred in history, but if we speak of it at this time, it would be a prophecy.

Qian Qianyi was very excited when he heard this, because he realized that the "Theory of Production" that the emperor asked him to write was not only a summary of history, but could also be used to guide the future.

If this prophecy comes true, he who wrote "The Theory of Production" may become a saint revered by people in the future steel age.

This made his body tremble a little, and he sorted out the emperor's theory in his mind, wondering if it was perfect enough:

"The Stone Age corresponds to the ancient times."

"In the Bronze Age, the Red Copper Age corresponds to the ancient Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and the Bronze Age corresponds to the ancient Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties."

"In the Iron Age, the wrought iron age probably corresponds to the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period and the Qin Dynasty, which was an era when copper and iron were used together."

"The iron smelting era should have started in the Han Dynasty. The imperial court at that time attached great importance to iron smelting and held a salt and iron conference, leaving behind a treatise called "Salt and Iron Theory."

"In the Middle Ages, the Han and Tang dynasties relied on iron tools to defeat the barbarians and produced tools such as the curved plow."

"In the recent past, the lands of Yanyun and other places were lost, and the iron smelting technology was lost. Although the Song Dynasty produced more ironware, it did not widen the gap with the surrounding areas, and because of the disadvantage of cavalry, it suffered continuous defeats."

"Until Taizu drove out the Tartars and recovered Yanyun, and strengthened the blockade of the grassland, it has become difficult for the Mongols to even make iron tools."

"This period of history can indeed be said to be the era of iron smelting."

These things that happened are all certain. What Qian Qianyi is not sure about is whether the next era will be the Age of Steel:
"Steel is stronger than iron, and is derived from iron."

"It's difficult to smelt steel directly, but it's not completely impossible."

"If the Iron Age continues to evolve, it may indeed be the Steel Age."

Qian Qianyi continued to convince himself in his heart, and became more and more convinced that the next era would be the Steel Age.

But it is easy to use steel to produce firearms, but what should be produced if it is used to develop production?

How much better are farm tools made of steel than ordinary iron tools?

Can steel really create a new era?

Regarding this question, Zhu Youjian said categorically:

"can!"

"Steel will surely create a new era!"

"Do you know the reinforced concrete used in roads and buildings?"

"If there is enough steel and cement, I intend to repair all the roads in Ming Dynasty."

"There is also the Beijing-Tianjin Railway, which had to use iron bars and wooden tracks because of the low steel production."

“If more steel is produced, we can use rails entirely.”

“The wheels and frames of horse-drawn railcars and human-powered railcars all require steel.”

"These are all the uses of steel now, and more will be needed in the future."

"If someone improves the production technology of steel and produces more and cheaper steel, it will surely usher in a new era."

These words reminded Qian Qianyi of the roads built in various parts of the capital.

Because steel is expensive, many roads use bamboo bars to reinforce cement, which is naturally inferior to steel bars.

Although he had never seen the Beijing-Tianjin Railway, he knew that the Imperial Household Department attached great importance to it and the emperor even allowed the issuance of bonds.

If this approach works, Ming Dynasty's future demand for steel will be almost endless.

Therefore, the next era may indeed be the Steel Age.

In order to enhance the persuasiveness, Zhu Youjian also said:
"There is one more thing you should know, sir. Wensi Academy and other institutions are developing steam engines."

“Its cylinder requirements are very similar to those of artillery, and also require high-quality steel.”

"If this kind of machine is invented, it can replace horses pulling rail cars. Then more steel will be used on the railway."

"At the same time, more coal is needed. The next steel age, or more precisely, the coal-iron age, will come."

The structure of the steam engine and the fuel used, coal, were explained in detail.

He also pointed out that if steel is to be smelted on a large scale, the most suitable raw material is coal.

Therefore, the following steel age can also be called the coal and iron age.

People will use steel smelted from coal to develop production and transform the world on a large scale.

Qian Qianyi knew that coal could be used to smelt steel, but the quality was inferior and could not be compared with steel smelted from charcoal.

However, the Zunhua Iron Works was once closed due to lack of charcoal, and the fuel needed to smelt more steel should indeed be coal.

He became more and more convinced of the emperor's theory. Thinking of the emperor's accurate prediction of drought in his dream, he had guessed in his heart:

This is most likely a hint from Taizu and Chengzu, and the prophecy will not fail.

Trying his best to convince himself, Qian Qianyi said to the emperor:

"Your Majesty's words are thought-provoking."

"I will write an article on production according to what Your Majesty said."

Zhu Youjian smiled and agreed, but he felt that if "On Production" only wrote about production tools, it would be a little incomplete. After thinking about it, he said:
“In addition to categorizing installments based on the means of production, installments can also be categorized based on the production relations.”

"The ancient clan alliance, the ancient three generations of feudalism, and the medieval centralized system are all different eras."

“These should also be included in the Theory of Production to link the two together.”

Instruct Qian Qianyi to write about production relations and relate them to production tools and productivity. (End of this chapter)